The cowriters of the critically-acclaimed third installment in the 'Before' series will get the Hollywood Screenwriters Award at the Hollywood Film Awards on Oct. 21.

Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke, the cowriters of the indie drama Before Midnight, which Sony Pictures Classics released to rave reviews on May 24, will receive the Hollywood Screenwriters Award at the 17th annual Hollywood Film Awards -- the first awards show of the 2013 season -- on Oct. 21 at the Beverly Hilton,The Hollywood Reporterhas learned. (The Hollywood Film Awards is owned by affiliates of THR parent company Guggenheim Partners.)

This is the third film in the Before series, which spans 18 years, and each installment of which was directed by Linklater and stars Delpy and Hawke as Jesse and Celine at different phases of their relationship as they walk-and-talk their way through one major city or another. Linklater and Kim Krizan co-wrote the first, Before Sunrise (1995). Linklater, Delpy and Hawke co-wrote the second, Before Sunset (2004), and received a best adapted screenplay Oscar nomination for their efforts.

The Hollywood Screenwriter(s) Award is presented annually "to an individual who has -- or individuals who have -- made outstanding contributions to the entertainment industry." Previous recipients of the Hollywood Screenwriter Award include Robert Towne (2002), Ronald Bass (2003), John Logan (2004), Akiva Goldsman (2005), Eric Roth (2006), Christopher Hampton (2007), John Patrick Shanley (2008) and Aaron Sorkin (2010). Last year's honoree, Quentin Tarantino, went on to win the best original screenplay Oscar for Django Unchained. (Before Midnight will contend for the best adapted screenplay Oscar.)

The Hollywood Film Awards are determined by founder and executive director Carlos de Abreu and an advisory committee. Last month, the Hollywood Film Awards and Dick Clark Productions, which also produced the Golden Globe Awards, entered into a partnershipthat could lead to the ceremony being televised in future years. Over the past 10 years, Hollywood Film Awards honorees went on to garner a total of 96 Oscar nominations and 34 Oscars.